Port Blair, Feb 5: A meeting of the Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee of the CPI (M) was held at Shaheed Bhavan, Anarkali, Port Blair today (4.2.2023). Shri G. Ramakrishnan, Polit Bureau Member and Dr Sujan Chakraborthy, Ex-MP and Central Committee Member attended the meeting. The meeting reviewed the political situation prevailing in the islands.

         Addressing the meeting, Shri G. Ramakrishnan, Polit Bureau Member criticized the Union Budget presented in the Parliament and termed it as anti-people.   He said that allocation for the Agriculture, Education, MGNREGA, etc have been reduced while more and more concessions have been provided for the corporate.  Referring to the growing gap between the rich and poor, Shri Ramakrishnan said that 40 percent of India’s wealth is owned by mere 1 per cent of its population.   He further said that the total wealth of 10 richest Indians stood at Rs. 27.52 lakhs crores in 2022, a 32.8 per cent rise from 2021. He further said that the bottom 50 percent of the population accounted for a meager 3 per cent wealth.  

Addressing the State Organising Committee meeting, Dr Sujan Chakrabothy criticized the ruling BJP for dividing the people on communal lines. He said that the CPI (M) has sought the cooperation of all secular democratic forces in Tripura to ensure that the BJP stage government that has unleashed a politics of terror and violence undermining democracy and the rule of law is removed from the office.   

Shri D. Ayyappan, Secretary, State Organising Committee presented the report. Shri Ramjiban Sarkar presided over the meeting. The meeting  decided to  conduct various protest action  along with other parts of the country from 22nd to 28th February, 2023  at the call given by the CPI (M) Central Committee  with the demands of  (i) Hike public investments in job  creating infrastructure projects, (ii) Restore 5 Kg of subsidized foodgrains along with 5 Kg free foodgrains, (iii) Vastly increase allocation for MGNREGS with a higher wage (iv) Impose a Wealth and Inheritance Tax (v) Withdraw tax  concessions to the rich and impose a tax on the super-rich and (vi) Withdtaw GST on food and essential commodities including medicines, etc.  The meeting asked Party Committees in the islands to organize programmes according to the local conditions during the above period.    On completion of the meeting, the visiting leaders addressed a Press Conference at Shaheed Bhavan in the evening.